Luke 21:1

King James Version (KJV)

And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

Translations

Luke 21:1 - Amplified Bible

LOOKING UP, [Jesus] saw the rich people putting their gifts into the treasury.

Luke 21:1 - American Standard Version

And he looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury.

Luke 21:1 - Bible in Basic English

And looking up, he saw the men of wealth putting their offerings in the money-box.

Luke 21:1 - Darby Bible

And he looked up and saw the rich casting their gifts into the treasury;

Luke 21:1 - English Standard Version

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box,

Luke 21:1 - King James Version

And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

Luke 21:1 - La Biblia de las Americas

Levantando Jesùs la vista, vio a los ricos que echaban sus ofrendas en el arca del tesoro.

Luke 21:1 - The Message

Just then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies. He said, "The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all!"

Luke 21:1 - New American Standard Bible

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury.

Luke 21:1 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

Levantando Jesùs la vista, vio a los ricos que echaban sus ofrendas en el arca del tesoro.

Luke 21:1 - World English Bible

He looked up, and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury.

Luke 21:1 - Young's Living Translation

And having looked up, he saw those who did cast their gifts to the treasury -- rich men,

Luke 21:1 - Additional Comments

Jesus had been teaching in the Court of the Gentiles, and had passed within the lower marble wall that fenced off the inner precinct of the Temple from the Gentiles. Jesus entered the Court of the Women where He could see the 13 shopharoth, trumpet shaped chests, or collection boxes for the tithes and offerings. They were located in the area where worshipers could easily place their gifts as they were coming and going. These collection boxes were placed at intervals around the walls, each one was lettered to indicate which offerings were to be placed in them. The colonnade was called The Treasury. It is a vast space where 15,000 worshipers could easily be accommodated.
Jesus seated Himself so He could observe people's behavior in the Women's Court. He sat watching, "how the multitude cast money into the treasury" (v. 41). Williams' translation gives us the idea that Jesus "sat down in front of the collection" and "observed" the people coming and going. He repeatedly watched the different persons who passed by and how they "dropped their money into the chest" (NEB). They "were repeatedly casting their money into the treasury." "Many rich people were throwing in large sums." I am sure if we were there we could hear the loud clanging of the silver and gold coins as they clattered inside the brass trumpet collection boxes.
We see a woman and Jesus. The woman is nameless. We have no record of any word she uttered. As far as we know our Lord did not speak to her. Most likely, she never knew what Jesus said concerning her. She simply passed along with the crowd, carefully placed her two mites into the horn shaped vessel and passed on by out the women's courts, not saying a word to anyone. She went her way in abject poverty and loneliness. The word for "poor" is ptochos, and describes abject poverty of a pauper rather than a poor peasant. She is in real danger of imminent starvation.
What Jesus has to say is to His disciples, apparently semi-privately because He called His disciples to Him to say what He had to say.
Certainly she was taken care of, for Jesus discussed her plight with them. Oh, the anguish we have in seeing her plight, but ah, the comfort in the realization that Jesus knew of it and would certainly take care of her. Yet, we have the promise that He always sees the plight of those in need (Hebrews 4:13), and will take care of their needs -- Luke 12:22-31.

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